Electric switch.



E. A. HALBLEI B.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 20.1914.

1923 1 732 Patented July 3 191?,

Hrmvmitm a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. HALBLEIB, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NORTH EAST ELEC-TRIO COMPANYZDF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. HALBLEIB, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .ElectricSwitches, of which the following is a specification. a

This invention relates particularly to electric switches for handlingcomparatively small currents, with which a snap-contact and break areunnecessary.

One object of the invention is to produce a switch, of simple andcompact construction,

which shall be reliable in operation and not subject to derangement ofits parts. An other object of the invention is to produce a switch oftheflush type, in which a num-' ber of circuits may be opened and closed atwill by the simple operation of sliding buttons from one position toanother upon the front or cover-plate of the switch. A third object ofthe invention is to produce a switch particularly adapted for three-wireelectriclighting systems, in which engagement may be madesimultaneously, by a single movable contact-member, with three fixedcontactmembers, and in which a firm contact between all of the memberswill always beinsured;

To the foregoing ends Iemploy, among other features of construction, amanuallyoperable switch-member which is provided with a recess in whichis mounted a springpre'ssed movable contact-member, and thismanually-operable switch-member is movable laterally so as to cause themovable contact-member to ride over one or more of the fixedcontact-members and thus move into or out of position to engage all ofthe fixed 3 is a front-elevation of the switchcasin and the fixedcontacts, the cover-plate and t e parts carried thereby having beenremoved; and

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Application filed June 20, 19m.

Patented July 3, 1917.

Serial No. 846,337. I

Fig. 4: is a section on the line 44 in receive the screws by which theswitch is fastened to a wall, dash-board or other support.

The cover-plate is provided with a series of short transverse slots 9for the reception of the movable switch-members. Each of theseswitch-members comprises an outer manually-operable part or button 10,and an inner part 11 in the form of a socket-member. The parts 10 and 11are shown as constructed of metal, and are-connected by a neck 12,integral with the part 10, which passes through and is riveted withinthe end of the socket-member 11. The neck is of such size as to movefreely within the corresponding slot 9, while the button and thesocket-member slide freely upon the inner and outer surfaces of theplate. In all positidns of the button the slot is covered and closed bythe button, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to prevent the ingress of foreignsubstances to the switch-casing.

The movable contact-member is mounted partly within the socket-member11, and is illustrated as a ball 13 of any suitable metal. This ball isseated loosely in a shouldered bushing 14 of insulating material, thebushing fitting loosely in the socket-member and being pressed outwardlyby a spring 15 inclosed in the socket-member.

Three fixed contact-members, 16, 3.7 and 18, cooperate with each movablecontactmember,these fixed contact-members being fixed in place, upon abody 21 of insulating material, by means of screw-threaded shanks 19 andnuts 22. The shanks and nuts CO11- stitute also bind-ingposts to connectthe contact-members with the conductors of the circuits controlledthereby.

As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and i, the

adjacent portions of the fixed contact-mam hers are beveled toward eachother so as to form a recess 20 in which the movable contact-member 13may rest when in closed-cirout of the recess 20 upon thchighest part ofthe member 16, and then engages the outwardly-beveled surface thereon,and this engagement causes the movable switch-memher to remain inopen-circuit position, owing to the pressure of the member 13 againstthe inclined surface due to the action of the spring 15.

The use of a spherical movable contactmember not only affords, in aconvenient and inexpensive manner, a conductor having sliding-members ofthe the necessary convex surface to cooperate with the fixedcontact-members, but it also provides for durability, owing to the factthat at each movement of the switch the ball may rotate more or less,thusbringing fresh parts of its surface into action and preventingexcessive wear at any one point. The insulating bushing 14 not onlyprovides the necessary insulation between the member 13 and the otherparts of the switch, but it also has the advantage that in case thesurface of the ball becomes roughened or provided with protuberances, assometimes may occur through arcing in the switch, this does not preventthe movable contact-member from having the necessary yielding movementwithin the socket-member, as might occur in case of a direct metalliccontact and close fit between the contact-member and the socketmember.

A valuable feature of the switch herein describedvresides in the factthat no electrical connections are formed between the movablecontact-member or bolt 13, and the parts by which it is actuated andsupported. Where such electrical connections are made, as in previouslyproposed switches, they depend either upon the uncertain contact betweenthe movable member and its supporting-devices, or upon transmissionthrough the spring, and there are well known objections to both of theseefiects. This arrangement also renders it unnecessary to insulate theswitch from each other, or from the plate upon which they are mountedand guided, and permits the construction of all of these parts of metal.

While I have shown a switch having three movable members 0;, buttons it.will be unrs. V 3, An

derstood that any convenient number may be employed, and that theinvention is not, in general, limited to the embodiment thereofhereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. An electric switch having, in combination, a plurality offixed contact-members, a slotted plate located in front of saidcontactmembers, a manually-operable member movable transversely in. aslot in said plate and having a socket opening toward saidcontact-members, a movable contact-member mounted in said socket andhaving a convex surface adapted to engage the fixed contactmemberssimultaneously, in one position of the manually-operable member, and toride over one of the fixed contact-members when the manually-operablemember is moved to another position, and a spring in said socketcotiperating with the movable contact-member and acting to'hold it inengagement with the fixed I contact-members.

' 2. An electric switch having, in combination, a plurality of fixedcontact-members located in a group and providing a recess between theiradjacent portions; a spherical contact-member of such size that it mayseat in said recess and engage the fixed contact-' memberssimultaneously; a manually-operable member movable transversely withrespect to the fixed contact-members and having a socket opening towardsaid members, the spherical contact-member being mounted in said socket;and a spring in the socket cooperating with the spherical contact-memberto force it toward the fixed contact-memtion, a plurality of fixedcontact-members located in a group andproviding a recess between theiradjacent portions; a spherical electric switch having, in combinavcontact-memberof such size that it may seat in said recess and engagethe fixed contactmembers simultaneously; a manually-operable membermovable transversely with respect to the fixed contact-members and havmga socket opening toward said members,

the spherical contact-member being mounted in said socket; a spring inthe socket; and a bushing, of non-metallic material, slidingly mountedin the socket and interposed between the spring and the contact-member,

.the bushing having a seat for the contactmember whereby thelatter iscentralized in the socket and separated from the. walls of the socket.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. HALBLEIB;

Witnesses:

Famrnnr F, Dorsey, D Gunner,

